Mr. Trump came from that. . . . You see the dynamic in many spheres. In Hollywood, as we still call it, where they make our rough culture, they are careful to protect their own children from its ill effects. In places with failing schools, they choose not to help them through the school liberation movement—charter schools, choice, etc.—because they fear to go up against the most reactionary professional group in America, the teachers unions. They let the public schools flounder. But their children go to the best private schools.This is a terrible feature of our age—that we are governed by protected people who don’t seem to care that much about their unprotected fellow citizens.

It was back in the 80’s/90’s when I noticed the trend to celebrate breaking rules. Instead of cheating it came to be considered “clever”. The sign says No Fishing, but if you find a way into the forbidden water you’ll get what you want faster and better. Because if you don’t then others will.

This breaking of rules has grown to include how you treat others. Disrupt a stage. Shout down a speaker. Reach out and take what you want and ignore the impact to others.

Dueling would confer consequences onto all the ugly, dishonest, uncouth, untrue, and defamatory things people say about you or your family. Yes, some politicians might be struck down if we allowed this ancient combat to reemerge in contemporary society. But I’m sure that’s a sacrifice most of us would be willing to make.